New data shows shifting U.S. energy landscape

Updated 6:17 pm, Monday, September 2, 2013

Surging U.S. energy production since the middle of the last decade has nearly quadrupled the nation's export of petroleum products, and cut imports of oil by almost a fourth.

That transformation has been evident for some time, but new numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy underscore the quick and dramatic changes in the nation's energy landscape since new technology boosted production starting around 2005.

The latest monthly report from the department's Energy Information Administration shows continued growth in U.S. fossil fuel production, a trend that led to a 22 percent drop in petroleum imports from 2005 to 2012.

Meantime, U.S. exports of petroleum products jumped 270 percent from 2005 to 2012.

Energy exports this year are on pace to grow again — they're already ahead of 2011 and 2012 through the first five months of the year.

Despite the growth in exports, the nation still relied on imports for 16 percent of its energy needs in 2012, according to the data.

The transformation in U.S. energy exports began when production of U.S. natural gas started soaring at the same time federal vehicle fuel-efficiency mandates began taking hold, causing a big drop in Americans' consumption of petroleum products.